January 11, 2008
Did you know...?
Healthcare workers suffer from the highest number of ergonomic-type musculoskeletal disorders.
Musculoskeletal injuries continue to be the leading cause of occupational injury in the healthcare industry. Patient handling and nursing related professions are consistently listed as one of the top 10 occupations for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with an incidence rate of 8.1 per 100 full-time equivalent employees in hospitals.
The American Nurses Association reports that ergonomic injuries occur in nurses at a rate which is twice that found in the general working population. The American Hospital Association reports that work related musculoskeletal disorders account for the largest proportion of workers' compensation costs in hospitals nationwide.
Patient handling is a complex and physically demanding task that puts healthcare workers at significant risk for musculoskeletal injuries. Comprehensive programs addressing specific risks and tasks within each setting are finding success. Important elements of these programs include:
· Engineering controls: technical systems such as patient handling equipment
· Administrative controls: no-lift policy and practice
· Management commitment: management supports the safety programs and provides resources
· Training and education: designing training programs for fundamental patient management skills
· Data collection: monitoring processes and practices
· Continuous improvement: adjusting systems as necessary
While there is no specific approach that can guarantee successes in patient handling issues, chances of success increase when multiple areas are evaluated and addressed.
To learn more about ergonomics visit OSHA's web page at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/.
To learn more about how OHS-COMPCARE's Rehabilitation Specialists department can help your company with back safety and ergonomics or to learn more about other services OHS-COMPCARE has to offer, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 559-6306 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com. You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
OHS-COMPCARE has eight (8) area clinical facilities:
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Blue Springs Clinical Facility |
Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
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801 NW St. Mary’s Drive |
19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200 |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
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Blue Springs, MO 64104 |
Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
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816-224-9121 |
816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
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After Hours Available |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
816-761-4664 |